Msgr. Thomas McGread: When the Going Gets Tough, Stewardship Gets You Going
Most parishes are experiencing a financial shortfall and hard economic times right now. Many parishioners are losing their jobs, and others are worried that they will, while others are afraid that their retirement income may lose its value. So, some parish offertories are feeling a dramatic drop. Still, the parish needs money to pay its bills, but this is a tricky thing to talk about. As soon as you start talking about money with your parishioners, many of them shut down. They don’t want to hear it. And more often than not, they don’t want to give.
I know the scenario all too well. I’ve been there. At each of the parishes I pastored, and even the ones where I served as an assistant pastor, I saw this play out. The pastor mentioned money, and many of the people turned their ears off. And I am sure that they do so even more these days in the midst of this economic crisis. For many, the idea of giving their money away when they have their own bills to pay can be painful.
So, how do you get your parishioners to give more generously? (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: February 5, 2012
February 5, 2012 — Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Mk 1:29-39
Today’s gospel begins with Mark’s whole gospel account, and we see Christ performing miracles, beginning with the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law. Later, the gospel tells us, “He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and He drove out many demons.”
Clearly, the people were amazed at what Jesus had done. So, when He withdrew to a place to pray, Simon, Andrew, and others came looking for Him. But the Lord told them He had to go. He had to preach and heal throughout all of Galilee. “For this purpose I have come,” He says.
Jesus has come to heal the whole world, but it is not to heal mere diseases. Rather, these stories of His powerful healing miracles serve as a foreshadowing of the greatest healing miracle of all time, His passion death and resurrection. Through this great paschal mystery, the Lord offers all of us healing from sin and life everlasting. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of February 5, 2012
February 5, 2012 — Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Mk 1:29-39
In the gospel today, Jesus heals the sick and performs other such miracles. He then tells His disciples that He cannot stay. He must move on to the next town and continue preaching and healing others. “For this purpose have I come,” Jesus says.
As Christ’s disciples, it is our purpose and our mission to proclaim the Word of God to the world today. We are, in effect, the hands and feet of Christ, and He calls each one of us to continue His ministry of proclaiming the good news. In fact, that is why He established the Church – to call all men to Himself.
Each one of us plays a very important role in the Church’s mission. We are all vital members of the One Church, and the Lord has given us many good gifts with which to carry out this mission. When we live our lives for the glory of God and use our gifts – our time, our talents, and our treasure – to serve the Lord by serving others, people are sure to see Christ in us. People are sure to be drawn to our way of life, to the hope and happiness Christ offers, and men are sure to come to Him.
Later in Mark’s gospel, when Jesus tells the apostles, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation,” (Mk. 16:15), He was speaking to the whole Church. Let us take ownership of our call. May we all use our God-given gifts, our time, our talent, and our treasure – to proclaim the good news: Christ has come to save all and He offers everyone life everlasting. It is a wonderfully hope-filled message. May our lives reflect its truth!
Fr. Dave Zimmer: Hospitality as a Gift
The stewardship pillar of hospitality is the first pillar we embrace when attempting to understand parish stewardship. I suppose the reason for this is because we all know when we feel welcome somewhere and we also all know when we don’t. Hospitality is a gift when it is given and it is a gift when it is received. It is also an experience we learn to pass on when the opportunity arises.
That opportunity came to my brother and me during the week that followed Christmas. The experience of hosting an open house validated my belief that the hospitality my mom exhibited in our home as we grew up would blossom into a gift we could pass on to others, much in the same way my mom used to do often and so well in our home. In retrospect, the gift of hospitality that is shared, given, and received makes an impact in our personal lives, our homes, schools, workplaces, and our parish. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: January 29, 2012
January 29, 2012 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28
God is in control.
In last week’s gospel reading, we heard Jesus call the first disciples, and they answered His call immediately, without restraint – leaving their careers and even their families to follow Him.
Today’s scripture readings remind us that, as Christian disciples, Christ is the one we follow, and we are His instruments, His representatives, to do His work on Earth.
In the first reading, Moses assures the people that God will raise up a prophet from their family line. The prophet is foretold to be one in authority. “To him you shall listen,” Moses says.
In our Christian minds, it is easy to make the connection to Christ. He is the One raised up from among the line of David. He is the One who speaks in authority, fulfilling the prophecies of old and ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven, promising life everlasting. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of January 29, 2012
January 29, 2012 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28
As Christ’s disciples, we are called to recognize all of our gifts as God-given – our time, our talents, and our treasure and to use them accordingly, putting them at the service of the Lord.
Today’s readings remind us that it is the Lord whom we serve. In the gospel, when Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, “Quiet! Come out of Him!” the gospel tells us, “The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed.”
It is amazing. God has authority over the whole world, and He has seen fit to bless us with so many good gifts, to give us life and family and faith, time and talents and treasure. It is only fitting that we recognize those gifts as God-given and give of them in gratitude to the One who has blessed us so.
So, we live to love and serve Him in all we do. Whether we are a mother or father, brother or sister, married or single, doctor or lawyer, writer or singer, it is our duty as Christian stewards to live our lives to the praise and glory of God. All that we do ought to proclaim His goodness to those around us.
In the first reading from Deuteronomy, the writer reminds us of this call. Speaking of prophets whose role it is to proclaim the Good News, he says, “But if a prophet presumes to speak in My name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the names of other gods, he shall die.”
Indeed, it is God whom we serve. We are called to live not for our own sake, but for the sake of the Gospel, being sure that through all we say and do, we help others see God.
Register Now for the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference
With the Msgr. Thomas McGread Stewardship Conference fast approaching, and only limited spaces remaining, we wanted to extend an invitation to attend this one-of-a-kind event to followers of The Catholic Steward blog.
The next conference will be in February… If you’re interested and would like to reserve your space at the conference, it would be best to do so over the next week because of limited availability.
For the past nine years, this conference has inspired and educated thousands of priests, religious, and lay Catholics, by sharing the remarkable stories of how developing the spirituality of stewardship has transformed the lives of parishioners as well as the life of the parish.
Msgr. Thomas McGread is often called the “Father of Stewardship” and was instrumental in the drafting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.
At this conference, you can hear the remarkable story of how stewardship transformed his parish — St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita — and how it has impacted other parishes across the country. The conference also will feature presentations by pastors and lay leaders from around the country that will share stories of how stewardship has become a way of life at their parish.
The McGread Stewardship Conference is held at the Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas. Click here to download the conference brochure and registration form.
Space is limited and time is running out, so register today! For more information, contact Shari Navarre at 888-822-1847, ext. 3725, or by e-mail at shari@catholicsteward.com.
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: January 22, 2012
January 22, 2012 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jon 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20
“This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
This is the call on every one of our hearts as Christ beckons us to Himself. We were made to live for Him, and He invites us to be His disciples, to live to love and serve Him, and, in so doing, to call others to do the same, thereby building the Kingdom of God and experiencing true fulfillment as human beings.
“Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in thee,” St. Augustine once said. Indeed, we were made to live for God, and, as these three scripture readings remind us, He invites us to do so. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of January 22, 2012
January 22, 2012 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jon 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20
Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and called the first disciples, inviting them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.”
In much the same way, Christ calls each of us to follow Him and to use the time, talents, and treasure He has given us to build the Kingdom.
St. Paul reminds us, “the world in its present form is passing away.” So, we ought not to get caught up in the things of this world. We ought to live in this world but not of it, proclaiming the goodness of God and the glory of His Kingdom.
Each one of us has been given particular gifts of time, talent, and treasure, and it is up to us to recognize those gifts and to share them lovingly in such a way that God will be glorified and we will call others to come to know him. In all we say and do, we must honor Him. He must be more important to us than anything else – more important than our careers, more important than our hobbies, even more important than our families. The disciples in today’s gospel show us just how unreserved our response to God must be. They left their nets – their careers as fishermen – and left their father, to serve the Lord.
For most of us, the call to discipleship will not require us to leave behind family and friends and even our secular career. But for all of us, the call to be a disciple means God must be first and foremost in our lives, and we must offer Him the first fruits of our time, talents, and treasure as His faithful followers.
Fr. Michael Troha: Seizing Opportunities to be Formed in the Faith
Formation is the third of four pillars of parish stewardship as a way of life, along with hospitality, prayer and service. But what does this word “formation” mean in our contextual understanding of stewardship?
Formation means to study the teachings of Christ and His Church, and then to develop ways to put those teachings into practice. Faith formation is at the heart of many activities in any parish. A parish grade school exists solely for the purpose of providing for the formation of children in the ways of Christ and His Church. A parish school should not be viewed as a “private school,” but rather a Catholic school, so that we, as a parish, are able to assist the parents of the parish in carrying out their responsibility to hand on their Faith to their children. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: January 15, 2012
January 15, 2012 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Jn. 1:35-42
In all three of this Sunday’s readings, we hear about discipleship. God reveals Himself to man, and man responds to God’s revelation by following Him – giving up His old life and living for the Lord.
In the first reading from First Samuel, we hear God calling out to Samuel, who “was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to Him as yet.” So, Samuel ran to Eli, believing the voice he heard calling him to be Eli’s. Finally, upon the second calling, Eli realized what was happening, and told Samuel that the Lord’s call required a response. “…If you are called, reply, ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.’”
Samuel did just that, and the writer tells us, “Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him always, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” Samuel gave his life to the Lord, and the Lord guided his steps and ultimately used Samuel to proclaim Him to the nations. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of Jan. 15, 2012
January 15, 2012 — Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Jn. 1:35-42
The theme of today’s readings is one any stewardship parish should be familiar with, and one whose message bears such a significant impact on our lives that it is well worth repeating time and time again.
God calls each one of us to be His disciples. He knows we are made to know, love and serve Him, and so He reveals Himself to us and calls us to Himself. Just as He called Samuel in the first reading, and then Andrew, Simon Peter, and the unnamed disciple in the Gospel reading, God calls us. He invites us to share in His life of love, because He knows that’s what we are made for.
However, His call necessitates a response. God doesn’t force us into a relationship with Him. Rather, He reveals Himself to us, much like He did to the men in today’s readings.
Both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel tell us of men who heard God’s call, responded by willfully following the Lord and then offered themselves to God as His stewards, using their gifts to bring others to Him.
God calls each and every one of us today, and He wants us to respond. We hear His call in numerous ways, and often, just like He did with Samuel and Andrew, the Lord uses other people to reveal Himself to us, to call us to Himself. We simply must be open to the call, keeping our hearts and minds fixed on Him, and then, we must respond to Him. Our response involves a willing gift of self, offering the Lord all we are – our time, our talent, and our treasure – to serve Him. Then, our lives will bear witness to the Love and goodness of the Lord, and, just as Andrew brought Simon, we will help others find the Lord.
Msgr. Thomas McGread: Stewardship for a New Year
The beginning of the year is a popular time for personal reassessment. The earth has finished one more revolution around the sun, and swings low over the cold January horizon, just like last year. The days are shorter, and an evening of introspection seems more inviting. Somehow, when we take down the old calendar and tack up the new, we sense an opportunity to make a fresh start.
To make the best of this opportunity (which, truthfully, exists in June just as it does in January), it’s useful to make firm commitments. It’s even more useful to write them down. These resolutions — kept in a desk drawer or on the refrigerator door — are a “hard copy” of our best intentions for self-improvement. They’re signposts that redirect our lives towards good, towards God.
Often New Year’s resolutions are about personal health, such as losing weight, relaxing more, or smoking less. And it is important, of course, to take good care of our bodies. But Christianity offers us a fuller concept of self-improvement. St. Paul reminds us that both the body and the soul need an exercise program. In fact, every aspect of our persons — physical, mental, spiritual, emotional — can benefit from an annual self-audit. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: January 8, 2012
January 8, 2012 – The Epiphany of the Lord
Is. 60:1-6; Ps. 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Eph. 3:2, 3a, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12
The theme of this Sunday’s Scripture readings is two-fold: God manifests Himself, and man responds to that manifestation with gifts of gratitude and conversion of heart.
The Magi, who were likely astrologers and magicians, made the long journey from somewhere far away to see the Savior, and when they saw him, they gave Him themselves. The gold, frankincense and myrrh were likely “tricks of the trade” that they surrendered to the Lord upon meeting Him.
They had an encounter with Christ that fateful day and, upon recognizing him as Lord and Savior, they offered Him the gifts of themselves. Then, the Gospel tells us, they departed from another way. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: January 1, 2012
January 1, 2012 – the Octave Day of the Nativity of Our Lord Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God
Nm. 6:22-27; Ps. 67:2-3, 5,6,8; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 2:16-21
It is interesting to note that while the feast we celebrate today is that of Mary, the Mother of God, we do not hear much about Mary in today’s readings. In fact, the only mention of her is the simple phrase in the Epistle: “born of a woman” and in the Gospel, the sentence, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” She is hardly the focus of today’s readings. Rather, the readings draw our attention to the birth of Christ.
In the first reading, it is the theme of blessing in the name of God that is emphasized. In this three-fold blessing, we see anticipation of our Trinitarian faith. What’s more, the Lord tells Moses to have Aaron and his sons bless the Israelites in His name. (more…)
